She shrugged. “I was raised on a farm.” But most of the first twelve years of her life were buried behind the wall of grief she had built to protect herself after her parents were killed. She remembered almost none of her childhood and didn’t really want to.
When he continued to stare, she found herself telling him the truth. “I don’t remember much about my life back then. Seeing the chickens, I remembered going with my mom to collect eggs from the coop. Some days it was like an Easter egg hunt. My mom had a way of making it fun.” Libby swallowed past the sudden lump in her throat. She didn’t like thinking about the past. It was just too painful.
Sam said nothing, but she thought that his features softened.
Next they went to visit the pigsty, an open-field enclosure with mounds of fresh straw, half-round metal shelters where the small group of pink-and-white pigs could get out of the sun, and a shallow pond where they could bathe and cool themselves.
“We only raise enough animals for our own use, but the visitors enjoy them,” Sam said. “We’ve also got five miniature goats. They’re a real favorite with the kids.”
Her interest sharpened. “Where are they? I’d love to see them.”
Sam pulled out his cell and checked the screen. “Unfortunately, we’re out of time. Our next guests should be arriving any minute.” He tucked the phone into the back pocket of his jeans, and Libby’s gaze lingered on his tight behind.
“Why do you get to use your cell and the rest of us don’t?” she grumbled, annoyed with herself for noticing.
“Now that we have guests, I won’t use it unless there’s an emergency. As I said, people come here to escape the digital world we live in these days.”
Sam started walking, and Libby lengthened her stride to keep up with him. “I’m surprised you have any cell service out here at all.”
“It’s spotty, that’s for sure. There’s not much once you head up in the hills, but close to the house it’s fairly reliable.”
At least she could use her phone upstairs.
She looked up to see one of the ranch vehicles, a black Ford Expedition, pulling up in front of the cabins. The next guests to arrive had flown from Los Angeles into the Eagle airport, and Big John Coolwater had gone to pick them up.
According to Sam, they were on their honeymoon.
“You must be Brad and Kim Hillman,” he said, shaking Brad’s hand as Big John unloaded their luggage from the back of the SUV. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Sam Bridger, and this is Libby Hale.”
“Good to meet you,” Brad said. He was a lawyer, and he looked like one—attractive, with short, perfectly styled dark hair and blue eyes.
“Libby will be taking care of your cabin. If you need anything, just let her know.”
Brad slid an arm around his pretty blond bride. “I’ve got everything I could possibly need right here.”
Kim blushed.
“Congratulations to you both,” Sam said. “You’ll be staying in the Dove’s Nest. That’s our honeymoon cabin. I think you’ll like it.”
It turned out to be a one-bedroom with a natural rock fireplace in the living room, a king-size four-poster bed, and a kitchenette. All of the cabins, Libby discovered, were cozy and welcoming and reflected the mountain setting of the ranch.
When Big John set the couple’s bags on the pine floor at the foot of the bed, Brad leaned down and brushed a soft kiss over Kim’s lips. Warm color crept into her cheeks.
“This looks great,” Brad said, his gaze sweeping the room furnished with a pine dresser and nightstands. “The bed looks real comfortable.”
Kim’s flush deepened.
“We’ll leave you two to settle in,” Sam said. “Part of the honeymoon package is your choice of supper with us in the main house or having your dinner brought over so you can eat here. You just need to let us know ahead of time.”
Brad flicked Kim a heated glance. “We’re both pretty slammed after the flight. I think we’ll have supper here.”
It wasn’t hard to read Brad’s plans for the evening, or the anticipation in Kim’s pretty face. Libby’s glance strayed from Sam to the big four-poster bed, and a little thread of heat curled low in her belly.
Sam’s eyes met hers and seemed to turn a shade darker, but he made no comment as they left the cabin and headed back to the house.
“I don’t think we’ll be seeing much of the Hillmans,” he said. “At least not for the first few days.”
Libby glanced back over her shoulder and saw that the curtains had already been drawn. Unexpected longing welled inside her. “They really seem happy,” she said.
“They’re newlyweds and they’re in love. That’s the way it’s supposed to work.”
Libby pressed her lips together. “I suppose.”
Sam paused outside the back door. “What? You don’t believe in love? Is that the reason you don’t date?”
She tilted her head back to look up at him. “I don’t date because most men are selfish bastards. I hope Brad Hillman isn’t one of them.” With that she brushed past him, marched into the house, and closed the door.
Chapter Six
After supper, Sam spent a couple of hours in his study. There was always work to do: QuickBooks entries to check, supply orders to prepare, cost analyses to examine. The work was endless. He was grateful for Clara’s help, along with the CPA in Coffee Springs who kept everything running smoothly.
Tonight his mind kept straying to Libby. She didn’t trust men, that was for sure. Obviously, she’d been hurt badly. He wondered who had done it and felt a surge of protectiveness he hadn’t expected.
The house was quiet as he walked down the hall to the kitchen for a glass of milk before heading up to bed. When something glinted on the deck off the dining room, he stepped outside and was surprised to find Libby sitting in a chair peering through a thick tube perched on a tripod.
“You’re up late,” he said, walking toward her. “Is that a telescope?”
Libby turned away from the scope. Although it was dark, he could tell she was smiling.
“Stargazing is my passion. I got interested in college, and it just stuck with me.” She stared up at the blanket of stars overhead. “Isn’t it amazing? The sky so black and clear, almost no light anywhere. The stars look like white diamonds on black velvet.” She pointed up. “That’s the Milky Way. You can just look up and see it. There’s nothing like this in the city or anywhere else I’ve ever been.”